Controlling a transmission of information in a wireless communication network with a relay node

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a transmission of information in a wireless communication network between a radio access node and a relay node, wherein, according to a new ground rule, for each allocated downlink subframe for a down link transmission from the access node to the relay node, an uplink transmission subframe for an uplink transmission is allocated four transmission time intervals later. A downlink subframe is only allocated when a further subframe of the same transmission time interval for a transmission from the relay node to the user equipment is a subframe of a type that indicates to a user equipment that no data are received beyond a control region of the subframe.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a method for controlling a transmissionof information in a wireless communication network between a radioaccess node and a relay node, to the radio access node and to the relaynode.

BACKGROUND

LTE (Long Term Evolution) of 3rd Generation Partnershiptelecommunication systems Release 10 is supposed to support inbandrelaying. In this situation a donor eNode B (eNB) communicates to therelay node which in turn exchanges data with a user equipment and thesame spectrum is used for the eNodeB-relay and relay-user equipmentlinks. At least the relay-user equipment links shall be backwardcompatible to Release 8 (Rel-8). A relay node (RN) must avoidself-interference, i.e., while transmitting to a user equipment (UE) itcannot receive from its donor eNB and while receiving from a UE itcannot transmit towards its donor eNB because reception and transmissionof the relay node would in both cases be in the same frequency band andcan thus not easily be filtered out. Self-interference at the relay canbe avoided by dedicating certain subframes to the eNB-RN (Un) link.

In a relay scenario a scheduler in the radio access node, e.g. an eNB,schedules all data transmission and allocates transmission resources tothe RNs and UEs in the coverage area. Another scheduler is located ineach relay node and allocates transmission resources to its associatedUEs. Naturally, a scheduler in the relay node may only allocateresources for Uu transmission that are not scheduled for Untransmission.

Another user equipment can also be directly connected to the eNB and maydirectly communicate with the eNB without the involvement of the relaynode over a Uu interface.

Obviously, the relay operation is different from the operation of aRel-8 FDD (Frequency Division Duplex) eNB, which can transmit to its UEsin any DL (downlink) subframe. In Rel-8 it is possible to configurecertain subframes as MBSFN (Multi-media Broadcast Multicast Service overSingle Frequency Network) subframes which indicate to the UEs that theyare not supposed to receive data beyond the control region (PCFICH(Physical Control Format Indicator Channel), PDCCH (Physical DownlinkControl Channel) and PHICH (Physical HARQ Indicator Channel)) in thefirst 1-2 symbols of the subframe. Note that MBSFN subframes have lessOFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex) symbols available forL1/L2 control than regular subframes. However, MBSFN subframes can onlybe configured for subframes 1, 2, 3, 6, 7 and 8. In other subframes (0,4, 5 and 9) at least Rel-8 UEs expect to receive the Broadcast Channel,Synchronization Channels and paging information.

Un subframes affect the HARQ (Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request) timingand the associated control signaling defined for Rel-8. The HARQfeedback is synchronous, i.e., it is sent in subframe n+4 if thecorresponding data was received in subframe n. This applies to bothuplink (UL, transmission towards the eNB) and downlink DL, (transmissiontowards the user equipment). On the uplink also the retransmissions aresynchronous, i.e., they must appear in subframe n+8. Downlinkretransmissions can be scheduled asynchronously, in subframe n+8 orlater.

The different periodicities of MBSFN patterns (10 ms or 40 ms) anduplink HARQ (8 ms) precludes Rel-8 conform protocol operation on Un andUu.

Since the pattern of Un subframes does not match the Rel-8 HARQ timing,a modification of the Un HARQ control handling and a definition for Unsubframe allocation are required.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, a need exists to provide a rule for Un subframe allocationand to provide the possibility to use the HARQ process in the Uninterface.

This need is met by the features of the independent claims. In thedependent claims embodiments of the invention are described.

According to a first aspect of the invention a method for controlling atransmission of information in a wireless communication network betweena radio access node and a relay node is provided, the information beingtransmitted in a sequence of subframes. A subframe comprises a controlregion and an information region containing the transmitted information,the subframe corresponding to a transmission time interval (TTI).According to a first step of the invention, a downlink subframe for adownlink transmission of information from the access node to the relaynode is allocated, wherein the downlink subframe or a downlinktransmission is only allocated when a further subframe of the sametransmission time interval for a transmission from the relay node to theuser equipment is a subframe of a type that indicates to the userequipment that no data are received beyond the control region. For eachallocated downlink subframe an uplink subframe for an uplinktransmission of information from the relay node to the access node isallocated four transmission time intervals later. This new ground ruleof allocating uplink Un subframes four transmission time intervals aftereach downlink subframe ensures that for each Un downlink transmission atransmission opportunity for positive or negative acknowledgementACK/NACK feedback is available.

The type of the further subframe may be a Multi-media BroadcastMulticast Service over a Single Frequency Network, MBSFN, subframe. Whena subframe for the transmission from the relay node to the userequipment is a MBSFN subframe, the user equipment is informed that noinformation will be transmitted in this subframe The fact that no dataare received beyond the control region means that no data will bereceived in this subframe and in particular that the subframe does notcomprise reference symbols outside the control region which the UE mayuse for adjustment of the reception. When MBSFN subframes are used for amulticast or broadcast, information/payload may be received, but noinformation for this individual user equipment, but informationtransmitted in a broadcast format for multiple receivers. However, ifMBSFN subframes are designated without including payload this avoidsself interference at the relay node for the information region of thesubframe. Self-interference for the control region is acceptable if thecontrol region does not include control information for the relay node.

According to an embodiment of the invention a downlink subframeindicates a scheduling assignment for the transmission of information tothe radio access node in the uplink subframe allocated four transmissiontime intervals later. This means that for each Un uplink transmission ascheduling assignment in form of an uplink grant can be issued.

When the downlink subframe from the radio access node to the relay nodecontains the transmitted information, the uplink subframe allocated fourtransmission time intervals later contains the acknowledgement feedback.The ground rules implies that there is an equal number of uplink anddownlink Un subframes. However, the ratio between the Uu to Un subframesmay vary.

According to another embodiment of the invention, when an uplinksubframe is received from the relay node, corruption of the informationcontained in the received uplink subframe is checked during a HARQprocess, and if the subframe is not detected as corrupted, noacknowledgement feedback is transmitted back to the relay node, whereinfor a corrupted received uplink subframe an uplink grant is transmittedto the relay node in a next available downlink subframe associated withthe HARQ process. The relay node assumes that the transmission wassuccessful when no acknowledgement is received from the radio accessnode, i.e. it does not perform a retransmission without a furtherindication that data is corrupted. The uplink grant transmitted in thecase of received corrupted information is transmitted in the nextavailable downlink backhaul Un subframe corresponding to the same HARQprocess.

According to another embodiment of the invention subframes for thedownlink transmission of information to the relay node are allocatedtaking into account a configured periodicity of the subframe type in thetransmission from the relay node to the user equipment. With the groundrule for Un subframe allocation and with the Un uplink HARQ processdescribed above, Un subframes can be semi-statically allocated either in8 ms, 10 ms, or any other periodicity, depending on the periodicity ofthe MBSFN subframes.

The invention furthermore relates to an access node of the wirelesscommunication network, the radio access node comprising a schedulerallocating uplink subframes for an uplink transmission of informationfrom the relay node to the radio access node and downlink subframes fora downlink transmission of information from the radio access node to therelay node, wherein the scheduler works according to theabove-identified ground rule in which the scheduler only allocates adownlink subframe for a downlink transmission when a further subframe ofthe same transmission time interval for a transmission from the relaynode to the user equipment is a subframe of the type that indicates tothe user equipment that no data are received beyond the control region.According to the invention the scheduler is configured to allocate, foreach allocated downlink subframe, an uplink subframe four transmissiontime intervals later.

The scheduler may be configured to indicate a scheduling assignment inthe downlink subframe for the transmission of information to the radioaccess node in the uplink subframe allocated four transmission timeintervals later. The scheduling assignment can be an uplink granttransmitted to the relay node four transmission time intervals beforethe information is sent in the uplink subframe.

Furthermore, the radio access node may also contain a HARQ controllerthat is configured to determine during a HARQ process whether theinformation contained in an uplink subframe is corrupted or not. If theHARQ controller detects the subframe as not being corrupted, it does nottransmit an acknowledgement feedback back to the relay node. If the HARQcontroller detects that the subframe is corrupted, it may transmit anuplink grant to the relay node in a next available downlink subframeassociated with said HARQ process. If the HARQ controller detects thatthe information is not corrupted, the uplink grant can contain anindicator indicating to the relay node that new data can be transmitted.

According to another aspect a relay node is provided, the relay nodecomprising a controller that is configured to transmit information in anuplink subframe to the radio access node four transmission timeintervals after having received a scheduling assignment in a downlinksubframe from the radio access node. The controller in the relay nodecontrols that the ground rule as allocated by the radio access node iscorrectly followed in the relay node.

According to an embodiment of the invention the relay node comprises aHARQ controller which assumes successful reception of an uplink subframeat the radio access node if it does not receive an explicit feedbackmessage acknowledging the uplink transmission in the uplink subframe. Asthe eNB does not transmit a feedback, the HARQ controller in the relaynode assumes successful reception of the uplink subframe and does notwait for a positive feedback.

The controller in the relay node may be configured to transmit anacknowledgement feedback message for a downlink subframe in an uplinksubframe four transmission time intervals after having received thedownlink subframe. In this embodiment the controller in the relay nodeassures that the feedback message for a downlink transmission ofinformation is sent in accordance with the newly set ground rule.

The relay node may furthermore comprise a scheduler which allocates thedownlink subframes for a downlink transmission of information to a userequipment and the uplink subframes for the uplink transmission from theuser equipment to the relay node. The scheduler should be configured toallocate subframes of a type that indicate to the user equipment that nodata are received beyond the control region. This makes sure that theuser equipment does not wait for data transmitted from the relay nodewhen the latter receives data from the eNB.

The invention furthermore relates to a method for controlling atransmission of information in the wireless communication networkbetween the radio access node and the relay node, wherein information inan uplink subframe for an uplink transmission to the relay node istransmitted four transmission time intervals after having received ascheduling assignment in a downlink subframe from the radio access node.A successful reception of the uplink subframe and the radio access nodemay be assumed by the relay node if no explicit feedback messageacknowledging the uplink transmission in the uplink subframe isreceived. Furthermore, an acknowledgement feedback message for adownlink subframe is transmitted in an uplink subframe four transmissiontime intervals after having received the downlink subframe.

In an embodiment, a downlink subframe to the user equipment isconfigured as a subframe of a type that indicates to the user equipmentthat no data is to be received beyond the control region if saiddownlink subframe of the same transmission time interval is configuredfor a downlink transmission of information from the radio access node tothe relay node. Furthermore, no uplink transmission from the userequipment to the relay node may be allocated in a subframe which isconfigured for uplink transmission from the relay node to the radioaccess node. This can be assured by the controller in the relay nodementioned above.

According to another embodiment the HARQ controller of the relay node isconfigured to check whether an indicator for new data is contained in anuplink grant received from the radio access node. If the indicator iscontained in the uplink grant, the HARQ controller transmits new data tothe radio access node. If the indicator is not contained in the uplinkgrant, already transmitted data, i.e. information that is alreadytransmitted in the other subframes, is retransmitted. As the relay nodedoes not receive an acknowledgement feedback, the relay node is informedwhether the transmission of information was successful or not by theindicator for new data contained in the uplink grant received from theradio access node.

The different embodiments described above may be combined in any way.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in further detail below with referenceto the accompanying drawings, in which

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a user equipment connected to the aneNB via a relay node,

FIG. 2 is a more detailed schematic view of the eNB shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a more detailed schematic view of the relay node shown in FIG.1,

FIG. 4 shows a table with a HARQ timing of an Un subframe allocationwith 8 ms periodicity,

FIG. 5 shows a table with HARQ timing of Un subframe allocation with 10ms periodicity, and

FIG. 6 shows the exchange of subframes between the relay node and theeNB according to the ground rule for Un subframe allocation andaccording to the Un uplink HARQ process.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a relay scenario in which the relay node 20 receivestransmitted data and/or information from an upstream node, here theevolved node B (eNB) 30, which sends the received information to theuser equipment 10. The interface between the user equipment 10 and therelay node is called Uu interface, and the interface between the relaynode and the eNB is called Un interface. As also shown in FIG. 1 theuser equipment 10 may also directly communicate with the eNB.

A scheduler SC_(eNB) in the radio access node 30 schedules all datatransmission and allocates transmission resources to the RNs and theUEs. Another scheduler SC_(RN) is located in the relay node whichallocates transmission resources to its associated UEs.

A user equipment may be a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant,a wireless modem, a handheld device, a laptop computer, etc. The Uninterface is adapted by using a new ground rule in which uplink Unsubframes (having a duration of e.g. 1 ms) are allocated fourtransmission time intervals after each downlink Un subframe.Furthermore, the HARQ control handling of the Un interface is adapted insuch a way that the Un interface is operated without PHICH and only theadaptive HARQ is used for the Un uplink. This means that no explicitacknowledgement (positive or negative) is transmitted from the radioaccess node 30 to the relay node.

In FIG. 2 a more detailed view of the eNB 30 is shown. The eNB comprisesa transmitter 31 for downlink transmission of information to the relaynode and UEs and a receiver 32 for receiving information in uplinksubframes from the relay node and UEs. The transmission timeline for thetransmission of information is partitioned into radio frames, each framehaving ten subframes The eNB furthermore comprises a transceiver 33 forthe connection of the eNB to a core network. The eNB furthermorecomprises a scheduler 34 allocating uplink subframes for the uplinktransmission from the relay node to the access node and allocatingdownlink subframes for the downlink transmission of information from theradio access node to the relay node 20 according to the ground rulementioned above. The scheduler also schedules up- and downlinktransmissions to UEs without involvement of an RN. The radio access nodefurthermore comprises a HARQ controller 35 that checks the informationreceived in an uplink subframe during a HARQ process. The HARQcontroller detects whether the information received in a subframe iscorrupted or not, e.g. by performing a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) forthe received subframe. Furthermore, a buffer 36 is provided where theinformation to be transmitted to the relay node can be buffered.

The radio access node furthermore comprises a controller 36 that isconfiguring a periodic pattern of candidate uplink subframes for uplinktransmission of the information from the relay node to the radio accessnode and configuring a periodic pattern of candidate downlink subframesfor a downlink transmission of information from the radio access node tothe relay node. The controller configures uplink subframes fourtransmission time intervals after the downlink subframes. The controllercontrols how the different subframes transmitted to the relay node andthe user equipment can be used, the scheduler actually allocating thetransmitted information to the different subframes.

A more detailed view of the relay node 20 is shown in FIG. 3. The relaynode 20 comprises a transmitter 21 for the downlink transmission ofinformation to the user equipment 10 and comprises a receiver 22 forreceiving uplink data from the user equipment 10. Further, a receiver 23is provided receiving downlink information from the eNB, and atransmitter 24 for transmitting uplink information to the eNB. The relaynode comprises an HARQ controller 25 controlling the HARQ controlhandling of the information received from the eNB. The HARQ controlhandling may contain a plurality, e.g. eight, different HARQ processeswith different associated subframes. Subdividing the control handlinginto consecutive processes allows that one process waits before feedbackfrom a receiver is possibly available due to the round trip time of thetransmission. Preferably, the number of processes corresponds thereforeto the number of subframes in a round trip time.

As discussed above in connection with FIG. 2, adaptive HARQ processesare used on the Un uplink, meaning that the eNB does not transmit anacknowledgement feedback in response to the uplink transmission of therelay node 20. The HARQ controller 25 now assumes that the transmissionwas successful if no feedback is received. In case, however, the eNB 30issues an uplink grant with the same non-toggled new data bit indicatorin the next available transmission opportunity for this HARQ process,the HARQ controller 25 knows that the same information should beretransmitted which was considered corrupted by eNB as an uplink granthas been received from the eNB for this HARQ process.

The relay node 20 furthermore comprises a controller 26 that configuresthe MBSFN frames on the Uu interface and thus configures the scheduler28. Scheduler 28 allocates transmission resources to the associated userequipments of the relay node, i.e. on the uplink and downlink on the Uuinterface. The controller ensures also that an uplink subframe to theradio access node is transmitted to the radio access node fourtransmission time intervals after having received an uplink grant in adownlink subframe from the radio access node 30 in agreement with thenew ground rule and the corresponding allocation by the scheduler 34 inthe eNB 30. Furthermore, a buffer 27 is provided in which the subframesare temporarily buffered. The subframes contained in the buffer may beneeded for retransmission if it has been determined by the HARQcontroller 35 of the eNB that the received information was corrupted andthat the information contained in a subframe has to be retransmitted.

FIG. 4 shows a HARQ timing of an example Un subframe allocation with 8ms periodicity, the subframes having a length of 1 ms each in theexample. The upper half of the Fig. illustrates the HARQ processes inthe backhaul, here the link between the relay node and the eNB, the Uninterface, and the lower half illustrates the HARQ process in the accesslink (Uu). Downlink transmissions (D), uplink transmissions (U), uplinkACK/NACK feedback (UAN), downlink ACK/NACK feedback (DAN) and uplinkgrants (G) are shown. FB denotes a feedback. Each frame comprises tensubframes from 0 to 9. In the third row the uplink HARQ process ID isshown assuming that 8 UL HARQ processes are used.

The D in the row above the DL data of eNB-R (relay) designate a subframepattern for a downlink transmission which is e.g. preconfigured. In thepresent case the preconfigured periodicity is 8 ms as can be deducedfrom four subframes containing a D followed by four subframes without aD, followed by four subframes with a D, etc. However, only thosesubframes in this pattern may actually be used for eNB to relaytransmission which are potential MBSFN subframes designated by an S inthe MBSFN row, i.e. a backhaul downlink transmission, a transmissioncontaining information, is only made if a subframe is both designatedwith an S in the MBSFN row and a D in the row above the DL data eNB-R.This means that a downlink transmission to the relay node can only bemade when the relay node does not transmit information at the same timeto the user equipment. The MBSFN frame structure shown in FIG. 4indicates to the user equipment that in frames having a S no data willbe received beyond the control region. Note that subframes 0, 4, 5, and9 may not be an MBSFN subframe as described above. The MBSFN subframesare attributed in a pattern with 10 or 40 ms periodicity. FIG. 4 showsan example of a pattern with 40 ms periodicity of which only a part isshown. With the downlink transmission D also uplink grants are sent.According to the ground rule introduced above, uplink Un subframes occurfour transmission time intervals after the downlink Un subframes. Thismeans that for a downlink subframe 6 of frame 1 the uplink subframeoccurs four TTIs later, i.e. for the downlinks subframe 6 of frame 1 thecorresponding uplink occurs in frame 2, subframe 0. According to themodified Un uplink HARQ, explicit Un downlink feedback is not present.In case of errors uplink grants for the next available transmissionopportunity are issued instead. In the example illustrated in FIG. 4 thenext opportunity occurs one or two round trip times, RTTs, later. As isshown in the following example: by way of example, assume that thetransmission in subframe 2 of frame 1 is corrupted. The correspondingHARQ process ID for the subframe is 4, as can be seen from FIG. 4, thirdrow. Then the eNB issues an uplink grant with the same non-toggled databit indicator for the next available transmission opportunity of thesame HARQ process 4, which can be found in frame 2, subframe 0. Hence,the UL re-transmission is sent in frame 2, subframe 0, which is 8subframes or one round trip time later.

The timing of downlink transmission and the corresponding HARQ feedbackas well as uplink grant and the following uplink transmission isaccording to Rel-8. In Rel-8 each uplink data transmission in subframe Nis followed by a HARQ feedback on PHICH in subframe N+4. In order todirectly apply Rel-8 HARQ timing on Un, each Un uplink subframe withposition N would need to be followed by a Un downlink subframe at N+4(in addition to the above-mentioned ground rule). Obviously, the tworequirements can hardly be fulfilled due to the mismatch of the HARQ RTT(round trip time, 8 ms) and the MBSFN allocation periodicity (10 ms).Therefore, a PHICH cannot be operated on the Un interface. Thus, the Uninterface is operated without PHICH and only adaptive HARQ is used forthe Un uplink. Consequently, a donor eNB does not transmit ACK/NACKfeedback in response to an uplink transmission of a relay. The relayassumes that the transmission was successful (ACK). In the case oferrors (NACK) the donor eNB issues an uplink grant with the same,non-toggled new data indicator bit (NDI) in the next availabletransmission opportunity for this HARQ process (synchronous HARQ), i.e.the next available Un downlink is a frame which is followed by a Unuplink subframe. The uplink grant is transmitted with an indicator ifnew data is requested. This indicator may have two values, thenon-toggled value being transmitted when the corrupted subframe is to besent again, and in the case of a toggled indicator new data can be sent.This modification results in adaptive, but still synchronousretransmissions for uplink HARQ processes. Since the donor eNB does nottransmit explicit ACK/NACK feedback, a (R-)PHICH is not necessary. Notethat adaptive retransmissions on Un slightly increase the (R-)PDICH loadin the case of high block error rate targets, however a (R-)PHICH can beomitted.

In uplink direction Un subframes are muted for Uu traffic simply by notscheduling any UEs.

Since MBSFN subframes cannot be allocated with 8 ms period, some Undownlink subframes cannot be used for the Un downlink, e.g. DL subframes0 and 9 of the first radio frame and DL subframes 4 and 5 of the secondradio frame. Accordingly, the corresponding Un uplink subframes are notavailable for the Un uplink, e.g., frame 1 UL subframe 4 and frame 2 ULsubframes 3, 8 and 9. However, those downlink subframes can be used forthe Uu downlink instead. The uplink subframes can also be used for Uuuplink, but it is not ensured that a retransmission opportunity isavailable. Hence, in the case of errors the UL HARQ process in thosesubframes may be suspended. The corresponding ACK feedback 4 TTIs afterthe UL subframe, e.g., in frame 1 UL subframe 8 and frame 2 UL subframes7 is indicated by an “A” instead of “DAN” in FIG. 4. The nextopportunity for retransmission occurs two or three RTTs later, asindicated in the row “next opportunity”. The delayed retransmissionopportunities when suspending a HARQ process on Uu uplink lead to longerdelay spikes. The other uplink Uu HARQ processes as well as the downlinkUu HARQ processes are not affected.

Self-interference at the relay node can be avoided by dedicating certainsubframes to the eNB-RN (Un) link. Those Un subframes are unavailablefor RN-UE transmissions (Uu link) by declaring DL Un subframes as MBSFNsubframes and by not scheduling any UEs in UL (uplink) Un subframes. TheUn HARQ process has to operate on Un subframes while the Uu HARQoperates in Uu subframes.

FIG. 5 shows the HARQ timing of an example Un subframe allocation with10 ms periodicity. The naming convention is the same as in FIG. 4.Again, uplink Un subframes occur 4TTIs after the downlink Un subframes(ground rule) and explicit Un downlink feedback is not present (modifiedUn UL HARQ). The Un allocation in FIG. 5 results in the same share of Unresources of approx. 30% as in FIG. 4.

A Un subframe allocation of 10 ms results in a 10 ms period of ofnon-usable subframes for the Uu. Despite of the non-usable subframes, Uuuplink occurs 4TTIs after Uu downlink so that Uplink ACK/NACK feedbackis always available. Due to the possibility to transmit PHICH in MBSFNsubframes, downlink ACK/NACK is always available as well. However, asynchronous retransmission opportunity cannot be ensured. Hence, in caseof errors, the uplink HARQ process in those subframes may be suspended.Again, the corresponding feedback is indicated by an “A” instead of“DAN”. The next opportunity for retransmissions occurs 2 or 3 RTTslater. The other uplink Uu HARQ processes as well as the downlink UuHARQ processes are not affected.

In connection with FIG. 6 the new ground rule and the adapted HARQprocess are summarized.

Before information is transmitted from the eNB to the RN an allocationfor the subframes is carried out. FIG. 6 shows a first allocation step61 symbolizing the allocation of a downlink subframe at the time t₀ anda second allocation step 62 where an uplink subframe is allocated fourtransmission time intervals later.

The scheduler in the eNB allocates the subframes in the relay node insuch a way that for a Un downlink transmission at time t₀ anacknowledgement feedback is available four transmission time intervalsafter the downlink subframe. This allocation of subframes can also beused for the uplink transmission at t₀+4TTI, as the uplink grant for theuplink transmission will be transmitted in the downlink subframe at t₀.Thus, when the subframe at t₀ is used for an uplink grant, the datainformation is transmitted at t₀+4TTI. If information is transmitted att₀, the feedback is transmitted at t₀+4TTI. The allocations are signaledwith subframe 63. The downlink assignment signals data in the samesubframe 63 at t₀ which the RN may then decode while the UL grantrelates to the subsequent subframe 64 at t₀+4TTI.

FIG. 6 furthermore describes the HARQ control handling of the presentinvention. In the HARQ process for the UE each uplink data transmissionat t₀ was followed by a HARQ feedback on PHICH in subframe t₀+4TTI.According to the invention a feedback on PHICH is omitted if theinformation contained in the uplink subframe was not corrupted. The HARQprocess carried out by the HARQ controller 35 shown in FIG. 2 determineswhether the received information is of sufficient quality or not. If thequality of the received information is sufficient, the HARQ controllerat the eNB does not transmit an acknowledgement feedback. If, however,the HARQ controller in the eNB determines that the quality of thereceived information is not sufficient, an uplink grant is transmittedin the next available transmission opportunity 65 for this HARQ process.As discussed in connection with FIGS. 4 and 5, the next availabletransmission opportunity is e.g. one, two or three round trip timeslater. The HARQ controller 25 at the relay node is now configured insuch a way that it assumes that the transmission was successful if nofeedback is received from the eNB. In case, however, an uplink grantwith the same non-toggled new data indicator bit is received, the HARQcontroller at the relay node knows that the information transmitted tothe eNB was corrupted, the HARQ controller initiating the retransmissionof the information for said HARQ process for which the untoggled databit indicator was received.

The retransmitted data are retrieved from the buffer contained in therelay node. If a new data indicator in the uplink grant indicates thatnew data should be sent, the HARQ controller knows that a retransmissionof the data is not necessary and takes new information data from a queueto be transmitted to the eNB.

The above-discussed invention has several advantages.

First of all it allows a flexible allocation meaning that Un subframescan be flexibly assigned and that different ratios of Uu and Unsubframes are possible. Furthermore, a maximum resource efficiency isobtained, meaning that both allocation with 8 or 10 ms period as shownin FIGS. 4 and 5 result in the same maximum resource efficiency, i.e.all subframes can be used. This can be deduced from the percentagesgiven in FIGS. 4 and 5 which add to 100%. Furthermore, HARQ feedback andretransmissions are available for all HARQ processes even when someretransmissions must be postponed by a round trip time or two. The HARQprotocol for Un uplink is modified, the physical layer does not provideany PHICH feedback to MAC (Medium Access Control) and an uplink HARQprocess may be assumed to be positively acknowledged (relay UL grant foradaptive retransmission). Furthermore, some Uu uplink HARQ processeslack a synchronous retransmission opportunity. It is up to the relaynode implementation to suspend such processes or to let them betransmitted anyway. Downlink Un HARQ and downlink Uu HARQ are notaffected. Both allocations, with 8 or 10 ms period, have the same numberof potentially suspended Uu uplink HARQ processes. Furthermore, theinvention allows to reuse of Rel.-8 format and timing. This means thatRel.-8 PDCCH and PUCCH message formats and timing can be reused.Especially the reuse of Rel.-8 timing leads to efficient eNB schedulerswhich can schedule user equipments and relay nodes in the same timeline. Last but not least, as there will be no explicit ACK/NACK feedbackfor uplink transmissions, a (R-)PHICH does not need to be standardized.

While the above embodiments are described with respect to LTE systems,it is obvious that the same principles can also generally be applied ina system in which relaying is performed between an access node and adestination node, e.g. a UE, via a relay node, wherein the radioresources for transmission with the relay node can be used fortransmission to both other nodes and wherein the transmissionperiodicity on the link between relay and access node and thetransmission periodicity on the link between relay and destination nodemay lead to resource conflicts.

Furthermore, the relay node and the radio access node shown in FIGS. 2and 3 only show the functional entities that are important for theunderstanding of the present invention. As known to those skilled in theart, the relay node and the eNB provide more functions not discussed indetail in the present invention. Furthermore, for a better understandingof the present invention the different units are shown as separateunits. However, it should be understood that a different number of unitsmay be used and that the functions of different units may beincorporated into one unit. Furthermore, the units shown may beincorporated by hardware or software or by a combination of hardware andsoftware.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for controlling a transmission ofinformation in a wireless communication network between a radio accessnode and a relay node, the information being transmitted in a sequenceof subframes, wherein a subframe comprises a control region and aninformation region containing the transmitted information, a subframecorresponding to a transmission time interval, the method comprising:allocating downlink subframes for a downlink transmission of informationfrom the access node to the relay node, wherein a downlink subframe forthe downlink transmission is only allocated when a further subframe ofthe same transmission time interval for a transmission from the relaynode to a user equipment is a subframe of a type that indicates to theuser equipment that no data is present beyond the control region;allocating, for each allocated downlink subframe, an uplink subframe foran uplink transmission of information from the relay node to the accessnode four transmission time intervals later; wherein, in response toreceiving an uplink subframe from the relay node: checking corruption ofthe information contained in the received uplink subframe during aHybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) process such that: if the uplinksubframe is not detected as corrupted by the checking, no acknowledgmentfeedback is transmitted back to the relay node; If the uplink subframeis detected as corrupted by the checking, transmitting an uplink grantto the relay node in the next available downlink subframe associatedwith the HARQ process.
 2. The method according to claim 1 wherein thetype of the further subframe is a Multimedia Broadcast multicast serviceover Single Frequency Network (MBSFN) subframe.
 3. The method accordingto claim 1 wherein each allocated downlink subframe indicates ascheduling assignment for the transmission of information to the radioaccess node in a corresponding allocated uplink subframe fourtransmission time intervals later.
 4. The method according to claim 1wherein, when an allocated downlink subframe from the radio access nodeto the relay node contains the transmitted information, an uplinksubframe allocated four transmission time intervals later contains theacknowledgement feedback.
 5. The method according to claim 1 wherein theuplink grant is transmitted with an indicator if new data is requested.6. The method according to claim 1 wherein subframes for the downlinktransmission of information to the relay node are allocated taking intoaccount a configured periodicity of the subframe type in thetransmission from the relay node to the user equipment.
 7. The method ofclaim 1, wherein if the information contained in the uplink subframe isnot detected as corrupted, no explicit acknowledgement feedback on aPhysical HARQ Indicator Channel, PHICH, is transmitted to the relaynode.
 8. A radio access node of a wireless communication networkcontrolling an exchange of information provided in a sequence ofsubframes with a relay node, wherein the subframe comprises a controlregion and an information region containing the transmitted information,a subframe corresponding to a transmission time interval, the radioaccess node comprising: a scheduler configured to allocate uplinksubframes for an uplink transmission of the information from the relaynode to the radio access node and downlink subframes for a downlinktransmission of information from the radio access node to the relaynode; wherein the scheduler is configured to only allocate a downlinksubframe for a downlink transmission when a further subframe of the sametransmission time interval for a transmission from the relay node to auser equipment is a subframe of a type that indicates to the userequipment that no data is present beyond the control region; wherein thescheduler is further configured to allocate, for each allocated downlinksubframe, an uplink subframe four transmission time intervals later; anHARQ controller configured to determine, during a Hybrid AutomaticRepeat Request (HARQ) process, whether the information contained in anuplink subframe is corrupted; wherein, if the HARQ controller detectsthat the uplink subframe as not corrupted, the HARQ controller disablestransmission of an acknowledgment feedback back to the relay node;wherein, if the HARQ controller detects that the uplink subframe iscorrupted, the HARQ controller causes transmission of an uplink grant tothe relay node in the next available downlink subframe associated withthe HARQ process.
 9. The radio access node according to claim 8 whereinthe scheduler is further configured to indicate, in an allocateddownlink subframe, a scheduling assignment for the transmission ofinformation to the radio access node in the uplink subframe allocatedfour transmission time intervals later.
 10. The radio access nodeaccording to claim 8 wherein the radio access node is an eNodeB.
 11. Theradio access node of claim 8, wherein if the information contained inthe uplink subframe is not detected as corrupted, no explicitacknowledgement feedback on a Physical HARQ Indicator Channel, PHICH, istransmitted to the relay node.
 12. A relay node of a wirelesscommunication network exchanging information provided in a sequence ofsubframes with a radio access node, a subframe corresponding to atransmission time interval, the relay node comprising: a controllerconfigured to transmit information in an uplink subframe to the radioaccess node four transmission time intervals after having received ascheduling assignment in a downlink subframe from the radio access node;an HARQ controller is configured to assume successful reception of theuplink subframe at the radio access node if the HARQ controller does notreceive an explicit feedback message acknowledging the uplinktransmission in the uplink subframe and an uplink grant is not receivedby the relay node in a next available downlink subframe associated witha HARQ process; and assume that the radio access node detectedcorruption of the information contained in the uplink subframe if anuplink grant is received by the relay node in the next availabledownlink subframe associated with the HARQ process.
 13. The relay nodeaccording to claim 12 wherein the controller is further configured totransmit an acknowledgement feedback message for a downlink subframe inan uplink subframe four transmission time intervals after havingreceived the downlink subframe.
 14. The relay node according to claim12: further comprising a scheduler configured to allocate downlinksubframes for a downlink transmission of information to a userequipment, a subframe comprising a control region and an informationregion containing the transmitted information; wherein the scheduler isfurther configured to allocate subframes of a type that indicates to theuser equipment that no data is present beyond the control region. 15.The relay node according to claim 12: wherein the HARQ controller isconfigured to assume that the radio access node detected corruptioncontained in the uplink subframe by checking whether an indicator fornew data is contained in an uplink grant received from the radio accessnode; wherein the HARQ controller is configured to transmit new data ifthe indicator is contained in the uplink grant and to retransmit alreadytransmitted data if the indicator is not contained in the uplink grant.16. The relay node of claim 12, wherein the HARQ controller isconfigured to assume successful reception of the uplink subframe at theradio access node if the HARQ controller does not receive an explicitfeedback message acknowledging the uplink transmission in the uplinksubframe, unless and until an uplink grant is received by the relay nodein a next available downlink subframe associated with a HARQ process.17. The relay node of claim 12, wherein the successful reception of theuplink subframe at the radio access node is assumed if no explicitfeedback message acknowledging the uplink transmission in the uplinksubframe is received on a Physical HARQ Indicator Channel, PHICH.
 18. Amethod for controlling a transmission of information in a wirelesscommunication network between a radio access node and a relay node, theinformation being transmitted in a sequence of subframes, a subframecorresponding to a transmission time interval; the method comprising:transmitting information in an uplink subframe for an uplinktransmission to the relay node four transmission time intervals afterhaving received a scheduling assignment in a downlink subframe from theradio access node; assuming successful reception of the uplink subframeat the radio access node if no explicit feedback message acknowledgingthe uplink transmission in the uplink subframe is received and an uplinkgrant is not received by the relay node in a next available downlinksubframe associated with a HARQ process; and assuming that the radioaccess node detected corruption of the information contained in theuplink subframe if an uplink grant is received by the relay node in thenext available downlink subframe associated with the HARQ process. 19.The method according to claim 18: wherein, in response to a furtherdownlink subframe, from the relay node and a user equipment, of the sametransmission time interval being of a type that indicates to a userequipment that no data is present beyond the control region, a downlinksubframe is allocated to the user equipment; wherein no uplinktransmission from the user equipment to the relay node is allocated in asubframe which is configured for an uplink transmission from the relaynode to the radio access node.
 20. The method according to claim 18further comprising transmitting an acknowledgement feedback message fora downlink subframe in an uplink subframe four transmission timeintervals after having received the corresponding downlink subframe. 21.The method of claim 18 comprising assuming successful reception of theuplink subframe at the radio access node if the HARQ controller does notreceive an explicit feedback message acknowledging the uplinktransmission in the uplink subframe, unless and until an uplink grant isreceived by the relay node in a next available downlink subframeassociated with a HARQ process.
 22. The method of claim 18, wherein thesuccessful reception of the uplink subframe at the radio access node isassumed if no explicit feedback message acknowledging the uplinktransmission in the uplink subframe is received on a Physical HARQIndicator Channel, PHICH.